Tee times lead to discounts at Rockford golf courses

Monday

Apr 14, 2014 at 5:39 PMApr 14, 2014 at 5:39 PM

By Matt TrowbridgeRockford Register Star

ROCKFORD — Through the first two weeks of the season, the biggest change noticed by golfers playing the five Rockford Park District courses are tee times at any time, both over the phone at each of the courses or at 815-968-PLAY for all the courses, or online at golfrockford.org.

In previous years, tee times were offered only for every other round, and on weekdays only between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Golfers accustomed to simply showing up at Sandy Hollow, Elliot, Ingersoll and Sinnissippi have been apprehensive.

“It’s not as different as people think,” said Duncan Geddes, the Park District’s director of golf. “We’re not trying to make it harder. We’re trying to make it easier.

“I think once people get used to it, they will really like it.”

With tee times, golfers can know exactly when they are playing instead of risking a logjam at the tee.

“And if we’re busy, I can check on the computer and maybe get them a tee time in a half hour at Sandy Hollow or Elliot,” Ingersoll manager Steve Moore said.

The system is especially helpful to golfers who pay daily greens fees instead of buying a season pass. Because tee times also let the golf course know in advance how many people are planning to play, the Park District now offers discounts on slow days the way priceline.com and other websites offer hotel discounts. For instance, a golfer planning to play today could have checked golfrockford.org on Sunday or Monday and booked a $16 tee time — the fee is normally $21 weekday for residents — at Elliot, Ingersoll or Sandy Hollow between 10 a.m. and noon, or a round at Sandy Hollow for as low as $12 between 2 and 4 p.m.

A few other local courses, such as PrairieView in Byron and Glen Erin in Janesville, Wis., also offer the service.

“With off-peak times, it’s bargain shopping, just like with the airlines,” Geddes said.